The
AKC Breed Standard was recently revised by the
Standard Committee, after several years of research
and reviewing volumes of input and feedback. We owe
many thanks to this committee for their hard work
and dedication, this was no small task! On May 22,
2003 the BCSA membership voted overwhelmingly to
approve the proposed standard revision. After the
club approval step, the proposal was published in
the AKC Gazette magazine for comment from the fancy.
Subsequently, the AKC Board of Directors, at their
January 2004 Board Meeting, voted to approve the new
standard. It becomes effective March 2, 2004.

GENERAL APPEARANCEThe Border
Collie is a well balanced, medium-sized dog of
athletic appearance, displaying style and agility in
equal measure with soundness and strength. Its hard,
muscular body conveys the impression of effortless
movement and endless endurance. The Border Collie is
extremely intelligent, with its keen, alert
expression being a very important characteristic of
the breed. Any aspect of structure or temperament
that would impede the dog's ability to function as a
herding dog should be severely faulted. The Border
Collie is, and should remain, a natural and
unspoiled true working sheep dog whose conformation
is described herein. Honorable scars and broken
teeth incurred in the line of duty are acceptable.

SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCEThe height at
the withers varies from 19" to 22" for males, 18" to
21" for females. The body, from prosternum to point
of buttocks, is slightly longer than the height at
the withers with the length to height ratio being
approximately 10:9. Bone must be strong, medium
being correct but lighter bone is preferred over
heavy. Overall balance between height, length,
weight and bone is crucial and is more important
than any absolute measurement. Dogs must be
presented in hard working condition. Excess body
weight is not to be mistaken for muscle or
substance. Any single feature of size appearing out
of proportion should be considered a fault.

HEADExpression is
intelligent, alert, eager, and full of interest.
Eyes are set well apart, of moderate size, oval in
shape. The color encompasses the full range of brown
eyes, dogs having body colors other than black may
have noticeably lighter eye color. Blue eyes (with
one, both or part of one or both eyes being blue) in
dogs other than merle, are acceptable but not
preferred. Eye rims should be fully pigmented, lack
thereof considered a fault according to degree. Ears
are of medium size, set well apart, one or both
carried erect and/or semi-erect (varying from 1/4 to
3/4 of the ear erect). When semi-erect, the tips may
fall forward or outward to the side. Ears are
sensitive and mobile. Skull is relatively flat and
moderate in width. The skull and muzzle are
approximately equal in length. In profile the top of
the skull is parallel with the top of the muzzle.
Stop moderate, but distinct. The muzzle is strong,
tapering slightly to the nose. The underjaw is
strong and well developed. A domed, blocky or very
narrow skull is faulty according to degree, as is
cheekiness and a snipey muzzle. Nose color matches
the primary body color. Nostrils are well developed.
Lack of nose pigmentation is a fault according to
degree. Bite: Teeth and jaws are strong, meeting in
a scissors bite. Complete dentition is required.
Missing molars or pre-molars are serious faults as
is an undershot or overshot bite.

NECK, TOPLINE, BODYNeck is of
proportional length to the body, strong and
muscular, slightly arched and blending smoothly into
the shoulders. Topline: Back is level from behind
the withers to the slightly arched, muscular loins,
falling to a gently sloping croup. Body is athletic
in appearance with a deep, moderately broad chest
reaching no further than the point of the elbow. The
rib cage is moderately long with well sprung ribs.
Loins moderately deep and short, muscular, slightly
arched and with a slight but distinct tuck up. The
tail is set on low and is moderately long with the
bone reaching at least to the hock. The ideal tail
carriage is low when the dog is concentrating on a
given task and may have a slight upward swirl at the
end like a shepherd's crook. In excitement, it may
be raised proudly and waved like a banner, showing a
confident personality. A tail curled over the back
is a fault.

FOREQUARTERSForelegs
should be parallel when viewed from front, pasterns
slightly sloping when viewed from side. Because
sufficient length of leg is crucial for the type of
work the breed is required to do, the distance from
the wither to the elbow is slightly less than from
the elbow to the ground and legs that are too short
in proportion to the rest of the body are a serious
fault. The shoulder blades are long, well laid back
and well-angulated to the upper arm. Shoulder blades
and upper arms are equal in length. There is
sufficient width between the tops of the shoulder
blades to allow for the characteristic crouch when
approaching and moving stock. The elbows are neither
in nor out. Feet are compact, oval in shape; pads
deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close
together with strong nails of moderate length.
Dewclaws may be removed.

HINDQUARTERSBroad and
muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to the low
set tail. The thighs are long, broad, deep and
muscular. Stifles are well turned with strong hocks
that may be either parallel or very slightly turned
in. Dewclaws should be removed. Feet, although
slightly smaller, are the same as front.

COATTwo varieties
are permissible, both having close-fitting, dense,
weather resistant double coats with the top coat
either straight or wavy and coarser in texture than
the undercoat which is soft, short and dense. The
rough variety is medium in length without being
excessive. Forelegs, haunches, chest and underside
are feathered and the coat on face, ears, feet,
fronts of legs is short and smooth. The smooth
variety is short over entire body, is usually
coarser in texture than the rough variety and may
have slight feathering on forelegs, haunches, chest
and ruff. Neither coat type is preferred over the
other. Seasonal shedding is normal and should not be
penalized. The Border Collie's purpose as an
actively working herding dog shall be clearly
evident in its presentation. Excess hair on the
feet, hock and pastern areas may be neatened for the
show ring. Whiskers are untrimmed. Dogs that are
overly groomed (trimmed and/or sculpted) should be
penalized according to the extent.

COLORThe Border
Collie appears in all colors or combination of
colors and/or markings. Solid color, bi-color,
tri-color, merle and sable dogs are to be judged
equally with no one color or pattern preferred over
another. White markings may be clear white or ticked
to any degree. Random white patches on the body and
head are permissible but should not predominate.
Color and markings are always secondary to physical
evaluation and gait.

GAITThe Border
Collie is an agile dog, able to suddenly change
speed and direction while maintaining balance and
grace. Endurance is its trademark. The Border
Collie's most used working gaits are the gallop and
a moving crouch (stealth) which convert to a
balanced and free trot, with minimum lift of the
feet. The head is carried level with or slightly
below the withers. When shown, Border Collies should
move on a loose lead and at moderate speed, never
raced around the ring with the head held high. When
viewed from the side the trot is not long striding,
yet covers the ground with minimum effort,
exhibiting facility of movement rather than a hard
driving action. Exaggerated reach and drive at the
trot are not useful to the Border Collie. The
topline is firm. Viewed from the front, action is
forward and true without wasted motion. Viewed from
the rear, hindquarters drive with thrust and
flexibility with hocks turning neither in nor out,
moving close together but never touching. The legs,
both front and rear, tend to converge toward the
center line as speed increases. Any deficiency that
detracts from efficient movement is a fault.

TEMPERAMENTThe Border
Collie is energetic, intelligent, keen, alert, and
responsive. An intense worker of great tractability,
it is affectionate towards friends but may be
sensibly reserved towards strangers. When
approached, the Border Collie should stand its
ground. It should be alert and interested, never
showing fear, dullness or resentment. Any tendencies
toward viciousness, nervousness or shyness are very
serious faults.

FAULTSAny deviation
from the foregoing should be considered a fault, the
seriousness of the fault depending upon the extent
of the deviation